Collegiate Female Athletes' Body Image And Clothing Behaviors

Abstract

This study investigates the body image experiences unique to collegiate female athletes in connection with their apparel wear. Both their athletic apparel and the apparel they wear outside of their athletic environment are addressed. Female athlete participants were categorized as lean sport or non-lean sport athletes. Lean sports are those in which athletes place a competitive and/or aesthetic value on leanness; Non-lean sports are those in which body weight and aesthetic appearance are less central to athletic success. For Phase I of this study, 36 NCAA Division I collegiate female athletes participated in in-person interviews, body image survey collection (Stunkard Figure Rating Scale and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire), photography of garment fit concerns, and 3D body scanning for anthropometric data collection. Lean sports included cross country and rowing (coxswains); Non-lean sports included basketball and volleyball. Phase II involved the data analysis of Phase I female athletes' anthropometric data obtained from 3D body scanning. During Phase III of this study, collegiate female athletes and collegiate female non-athletes completed the MBSRQ through Qualtrics. MBSRQ results from Phase I were combined with Phase III data for a total of 78 collegiate female athletes (lean36, non-lean-42) and 101 collegiate female non-athletes represent. Lean sports represented include: cross country, equestrian, gymnastics, rowing (coxswains), swimming and diving, track and field (running events). Non-lean sports include basketball, fencing, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Results indicate no significant difference in body image between lean and non-lean sports groups but high body image scores in comparison to non-athletes. Anthropometric data analysis revealed similar body proportions and shape between lean and non-lean sports groups supporting similar garment fit concerns discussed in Phase I of this study.